Controllers Left Early Before Fatal LaGuardia Crash, FAA Weighs Firing
Two LaGuardia controllers left early before the fatal Air Canada crash; FAA considers firing them for timecard fraud.
Two air traffic controllers at New York's LaGuardia Airport are facing possible dismissal after leaving their posts about an hour before the deadly March 22 crash involving an Air Canada jet and a fire truck, according to a government official familiar with the investigation.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the probe is ongoing, said the early departures left only two controllers in the tower to handle an unusually high volume of flights while also managing an emergency on another aircraft. The two who left were scheduled to be on duty when the crash occurred, and their presence could have provided critical backup.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is pursuing disciplinary action, up to firing, against the two controllers. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called the early departures "timecard fraud" that will not be tolerated, while the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said it is discussing the allegations with FAA leadership.
Experts and retired officials note that leaving early when a required break falls at the end of a shift—known as an "early shove"—is common nationwide, but one former FAA investigator said it should not be excused.
The crash happened around 11:45 p.m. when an Air Canada Express CRJ900 from Montreal, carrying 76 people, struck a fire truck crossing the runway. Both pilots were killed, and 39 others were taken to hospitals. The fire truck was part of a convoy responding to an odor emergency on a United Airlines jet.
A preliminary NTSB report found that the fire truck began crossing while warning lights were still lit, and because it lacked a transponder, the tower's surface monitoring system did not alert controllers to the conflict. A controller's "stop, stop, stop" warning came too late.
LaGuardia was busier than usual that night due to weather delays, with more than double the scheduled flights after 10 p.m. The NTSB is continuing its investigation, with a final report expected next year.